Comments from vokoban

Thanks Eric….those are pretty amazing photos. You should add them to the photos on this page.

Here’s a photo that a friend gave to me. I scanned it before I put it in the frame. I don’t think I’ve seen this one yet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vokoban/6261222632/in/photostream

Good find RonP! This is most likely the same place: (June 23, 1954 LA Times) By Cal Whorton If you want a laugh that’s even better than a ring full of huffing and puffing grapplers, then I suggest you catch Howard (Hangman) Cantonwine in his latest role of skater. Cantonwine, former football player at Iowa who estimates he’s wrestled in at least 6000 matches, is off on a new business venture. He’s just opened the doors of his Skatium on W Washington Blvd. neat Arlington.

(Nov. 29, 1933 LA Times) PREVIEW FOR BENEFIT In addition to a feature preview being shown, Rosa Disraeli, lyric soprano, will sing several selections at the benefit theater party next Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Melrose Theater, 4315 Melrose avenue, by Beth Jacob and the West Side Ladies' Auxiliary of Mr. Sinai Home for Chronic Invalids.

If anyone doesn’t believe me, take a look at this…the only thing that matters in Beverly Hills is money, money, money.

http://www.johnlautner.org/wp/?p=499
The city of Beverly Hills has no historic preservation laws (such as the Mills Act, which allows owners of historic and designated properties to receive tax credits for restoration expenses), or landmark ordinances which, in cases like this, would allow the necessary time to explore alternatives to demolition.

(Sept. 2, 1923)
Elite Theater, 3818 S. Park Avenue
Sept. 2-3-Thomas Meighan in “Conquest of Canaan."
Sept. 4-Lois Weber production, "Too Wise Wives."
Sept. 5-6-Theodore Roberts in "The Old Homestead."
Sept. 7-8-Douglas MacLean in "Passing Through.”

Anyone know if this is the same theater?
(March 9, 1914 LA Times)
Elite Theater
38th and South Park
N.W. THOMAS, Proprietor
(Feb. 15, 1915)
Elite Theater
And Motion Picture Operators' School
38th and South Park
Vaudeville and Universal Service

The theater’s name was Music Hall at least by 1948.
(Feb. 3, 1948 LA Times)
MUSIC HALL, 9036 Wilshire-BR.2-3593
Sleep, My Love

Here’s a photo of the Forum from 1958. It was part of a term paper I found at an estate sale: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vokoban/4975409891/

Bill, The doors are usually open during the day but there is also usually a guard. Sometimes they will let you roam all over the building and sometimes just the ground floor. There is something really spooky about that building if you’re alone. It’s beautiful inside and has been in tons of movies. There is a huge swimming pool in the basement that they used for those alien egg things in the movie Cocoon. I think the doors are open because people rent it out for weddings and events. As far as I know, it has never been a hotel. I never understood why they changed the name sometime in the 90’s, I think.

(July 3, 1927 LA Times)
RESEDA TO GET FIRST THEATER
RESEDA, July 2.-Reseda is to have its first motion-picture theater-a building that is to cost $35,000. This is the announcement made by N. Scheinberg and M.P. Horwitz, owners and operators of the Van Nuys Theater, and the Madrid Theater at Owensmouth. The Reseda house will be erected on Reseda Boulevard, north of Sherman Way. The Sloan Building Company of Los Angeles will have charge of construction. Plans will be by Roy Reeves, Van Nuys architect. Scheinberg and Horwitz are well-known Van Nuys men. Following their success at Van Nuys, they built the Owensmouth house a few months ago, with the promise that a similar playhouse would be erected in Reseda.

Never mind….I guess the Egan was a live theater that later became the Musart. It was at 1320 S. Figueroa.

July 1, 1915, LA Times:

SEE IRVING CUMMINGS
In The Greatest Of All Photoplays
The Diamond From The Sky
Navarro Theater
738 W. Pico St., L.A.